Cracking the pot : the history behind Singapore's management of drug use

Abstract

Today, Singapore is one of the strictest countries in the world when it comes to illegal drugs. Imbued in the country are anti-drug narratives, where citizens are instilled through public education on the dangers and repercussions of misusing drugs. And these high-profile measures go hand in hand with the Misuse of Drugs Act which seeks to control dangerous and harmful drugs and substances in Singapore. When analysing the drug issue and laws in Singapore, it is imperative to discuss the historical context which resulted in the need for such strict laws in order to comprehend Singapore’s approach. My thesis will present an understanding using the historical, cultural and socio-economical contingent knowledge that shaped Singapore’s approach towards illicit drugs during the 1970s. At present, Singapore maintains a zero-tolerance approach. But how does this fare against the global events that continuously shape the world? The management of drug use in Singapore is and has been shaped by these historically contingent events as well as the influence of such international forces. And all in all, the chapters amalgamate into a contextualised understanding of Singapore’s enactment of the Misuse of Drugs Act which will then be contrasted against the drug notions of today.